Attorney: Hatori’s autopsy lists ‘homicide’ as manner of death

Attorney: Hatori’s autopsy lists ‘homicide’ as manner of death

Hawaii County Police Chief Harry Kubojiri declined to comment Thursday morning on allegations raised by a Honolulu attorney about the February death of a man in police custody.

A Hawaii television station spoke Wednesday with Honolulu attorney Michael Green, who said the autopsy report of Randall Hatori listed the manner of death as homicide.

The police department last week issued a press release citing “cardio-respiratory arrest due to the combined effects of high levels of methamphetamine in his blood, an enlarged heart and a physical struggle” as the 39-year-old Kailua-Kona man. The release did not list a manner of death.

Homicide, by definition, does not carry a specific intention to cause death, but refers to death at the hands of another person, not necessarily murder.